Update 3.21.21: As many of you already know, the Purito sunscreens tested below the SPF stated on the label. I decided not to take down my reviews of them, but in the spirit of full disclosure I am adding this update. The brand is currently working on new formulations, and I signed up to be an early tester.
I’ve had a long-standing love affair with Purito products. They were some of the very first Korean beauty items I purchased, and pretty much everything has worked for me. I am drawn to the natural, safe (non-toxic) ingredients that are rated as green on EWG (environmental working group) database. What’s equally important - the products are effective on my skin.
Being very fair and prone to sun damage, I spend a lot of time and effort searching for safe, effective, and pleasant (in application) sunscreens. I’ve been hoping that Purito would come out with one at some point, and voila - they have! I recently got my hands on Purito Centella Green Level Safe Sun SPF50+ PA++++ sunscreen. It’s available on eBay, Amazon, YesStyle and Jolse.
The most common chemical sunscreen filters that I have encountered are not what I would consider safe (oxybenzone, for example, is rated 8 out of 10 for toxicity on EWG Skin Deep Database). Purito, however, is using two completely new to me sunscreens.
Sun protection ingredients:
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate - organic compound that absorbs UVA radiation. It has an excellent photostability and compatibility with other sunscreen and cosmetic components. EWG safety rating of 2 (green).
Ethylhexyl Triazone - organic compound that absorbs broad spectrum UVA and UVB radiation. EWG safety rating of 1 (green).
Most of us have probably already heard of SPF (sun protection factor), but what is PA? It’s based on a Persistent Pigmentation Darkening test which measures how much UVA a person can be exposed to without tanning/skin darkening. The range is from + to ++++. In short - higher SPF and more “+”s after the PA mean higher protection against the sun. This Purito sunscreen offers a high SPF of 50+ and the highest possible PA++++.
Other ingredients:
Centella Asiatica - a beloved Korean beauty component to soothe irritated skin, promote healing and prevent breakouts
Hyaluronic Acid - attracts environmental moisture to the skin for supreme hydration
Niacinamide - evens out the skin tone, reduces pore size, provides anti-aging effects
Lavender Oil - soothes irritated skin
Tocopherol - another name for vitamin E, a classic antioxidant that fights early signs of aging
How to use:
Apply as the last step of skincare, before makeup
Gently spread over the face, chest, and neck
Can be used on the body, if desired
My impressions:
I have fair, combination skin prone to freckles with only two possible “colors” - pale-white or burnt-red. No pretty suntans here. Everyone should be using sunscreen daily, no matter the season, but especially people with skin like mine. For the last few years, I have stuck with physical sunscreens that use titanium and zinc as filters as they are generally considered safe. Physical sunscreens work by reflecting/blocking the sun rays from reaching the skin.
Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing and neutralizing the rays. The big drawbacks of most physical sunscreens are white cast, thick texture and poor absorption. There are constant improvements in skincare, and I have a few physical favorites (you can read my sunscreen reviews here). I stayed away from chemical sunscreens because the most commonly used ingredient - oxybenzone - is quite toxic. However, there are improvements in that area as well. The ingredients in Purito Centella Green Level Safe Sun are all rated as green/safe on EWG. I did a bit of reading on them and feel comfortable using them on myself.
The texture of the product is wonderful - very smooth and silky, gets absorbed quickly without leaving a residue. The consistency is somewhere between lotion and cream. I think it would work well for all skin types. Since it’s cold right now, I use an emulsion before the sunscreen, but in the summer I probably wouldn’t need that. The scent is very light and somewhat herbal; I find it pleasant.
There’s absolutely no white cast. In fact, the product is invisible on the skin. I’ve had no “side effects” - no flaking, no oiliness, no dryness - nothing. Just glowing, healthy skin. I don’t wear a lot of decorative makeup, but the little I do use goes over the sunscreen well.
I’m pleased. I’m glad that the Korean beauty market is so responsive to consumer demands. We are so much more aware of the ingredients now and are asking for better, more natural, safer alternatives to the popular chemical sunscreens. And companies like Purito listen and respond. I like this sunscreen and would happily get it again. You can read my other Purito reviews here.
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Purito Centella Green Level Safe Sun ingredients: water, butylene glycol, glycerin, dicaprylyl carbonate, dibutyl adipate, diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate, hydrogenated polyisobutene, 1,2-hexanediol, niacinamide, ethylhexyl triazone, polyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearate, silica, cetearyl olivate, cetearyl alcohol, centella asiatica extract, hyaluronic acid, tocopherol, sorbitan olivate, glyceryl stearate SE, methyl glucose sesquistearate, sorbitan stearate, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, disodium EDTA, adenosine, anthemis nobilis flower oil, caprylyl glycol, ethylhexylglycerin
This sunscreen was generously sent to me by Purito for review. All opinions are my own and honest.